The No. 5 Liberty Lions have picked the right time to be playing their best ball of the season.

It was most apparent in the second half of their 3-0 win over No. 14 Oakland Mills (9-5-2) in yesterday's Class 3A-2A state semifinal at Howard High School.

After taking a 1-0 lead late in the first half on a goal from stopper Colleen Cox, the Lions didn't let up against a talented Oakland Mills team that won the Class 2A-1A state title last season. Instead, they took control.

"[Oakland Mills] had some chances in the first half, but I felt like we were in control. We possessed the ball very well," said Liberty first-year coach Sam DeLaurence. "We heard they play real well when they're behind, so, at the half, we talked about not letting them out-work us."

The Lions got two goals from Ziegenfuss -- her 23rd and 24th of the season -- and didn't look back, instead looking forward to their first chance at a state title when they play South River at noon Saturday at Dundalk Community College.

The goal from Cox -- coming with 6: 02 left in an evenly played first half -- was huge.

Brigit Becker's corner kick was headed out by a Scorpions defender right to Cox, who one-timed a shot from 25 yards out that found the top left corner.

It was the second goal of the season for the Lions defender, both coming in similar fashion.

"I'm usually at the top of the [penalty area] on corner kicks and fTC get some opportunities," she said. "I just saw the ball there and thought this was my chance. It doesn't happen very often so it's a good feeling."

Added DeLaurence: "That was big. At that point, they had to score two goals to win the game and the way we were controlling the ball, we knew it would be hard for them to do."

In the second half, midfielders Haley DeLaurence and Trish Young got to every ball in the middle with help from Cox.

This gave Ziegenfuss an opportunity to display why she is among the most dangerous one-on-one players in the metro area.

Her first goal of the game was an incredible individual effort coming with 22 minutes left.

"I saw an advantage and attacked some open space. Then I was able to beat the keeper," Ziegenfuss said.

Translation: Ziegenfuss twisted and turned around three defenders inside the penalty area to win the right side before beating Oakland Mills keeper Nyiesha Ford with a shot to the near post.

Ziegenfuss added her second goal and seventh of the playoffs a little later on a direct kick just outside the penalty area.

"At the beginning of the season, we never expected to get this far. But by the middle of the season, the way we were all playing together, you could see this is a unique team," Ziegenfuss said.